AVIATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 March 1928, Page 4

AVIATION

TRANS-ATLANTIC DANGERS. - — I Australian & N.Z. Gable Association.) LONDON, March 23. “I consider it most unwise to (attempt to fly the Atlantic from east; to west, until we have machines of greater endurance,’ declared the Air Minister, Sir S. Hoare in a speech at Birmingham: “I do not desire to criticise that brilliant pilot Hinchcliffe, and his courageous companion, but to warn others that the risks at present are too great. At the same time, it would be unwise, as well as impracticable for the Government to , interfere with the individual’s right to embark on such an adventure. Public opinion is rightly jealous of any attempt to curtail the spirit of enterprise and adventure.”

AMERICAN ENTERPRISE.

PARIS, March 23.

The French airman, Rene Fonck, has returned from America;: He says that a forty million dollar company has been formed to organise a Trans-At-lantic Air Service. There will be a series of floating islands, every 325 miles across the Atlantic, one, of which will be completed shortly, and will be moored two hundred miles from New York. '■ ■ BRITAIN’S LATEST MARVEL.. LONDON, March 25. In addition to the air speed record, the Air Ministry is officially attempting a long distance non-stop flight and duration records, for which a special Na-pier-England machine is being completed. It is expected that the aeroplane will be able to remain in the air i_. for over sixty hours, and capable of 5000 miles non-stop flight.' Tho “Daily Express” says: Flight Lieut. O. E. Worsley will be the pilot in the speed attempt six weeks hence, and adds: The new machine will be flown in the next Schneider Cup race, it is further stream-lined and capable of six miles a minute.

TOURISTS’ HUSTLE.

LONDON, March 24.

“The Innocents Abroad” will be brought, up to date when a cargo of American tourists fly to Europe in a fleet of thirty aeroplanes. They will land from a steamer at Bremen, and will then fly to sixteen cities, covering 2800 miles in three weeks. Then they will hustle home.

ITALIAN ACHIEVEMENTS.

LONDON, March 23.

The Rome correspondent of “The Times” says: Italy possesses eighteen hundred aeroplanes, of which one thousand are usable immediately for war purposes. There were 420 constructed last year. This statement was made by Signor Bailbo (Undersecretary for Air) in the Chamber of Deputies, when explaining an expendi-i ture of £7,600,000 for military and. civil aviation. He Claimed for Italy the third place in European civil aviation, she only being surpassed by France and Germany. He added that Italy was opening five new air lines in June, including connections with Spain, Germany and Tripoli. He recalled that Italy holds the height and speed records and that she aims at capturing the for distance and duration now held by America.

VICTORIAN DERBY.

MELBOURNE, March 25.

The Victoria. Aerial Derby was won by Major De Haviland, with Captain Matthews second, and L. Farmer third. Bert Hinkler participated. The time was smin 31sec.

“TASMAN” RELIEF AUCTION.

WELLINGTON, March 26.

At the wool sale to-day, one of the chairs that had formed part of the equipment of the airplane used in the cross-Tasman flight, was auctioned and £24(1 realised on behalf of the —blows of Moncrieff and Hood.